Container with spring-biased closure having means for dispensing a measured quantityof container contents



July 17, 1

9 A. w. GROTE 2,561,111

CONTAINER WITH SPRING-BIASED CLOSURE HAVING MEANS FOR DISPENSING A MEASURED QUANTITY OF CONTAINER CONTENTS Filed NOV. 29, 1946 Isa w w Mx M Patented July 17, 1951 UNITED STATES PAT ENT OFFICE CONTAINER WITH SPRING-BIAfiED CLO- SURE HAVI G ,M S OR DI E IN A. MEASURED QUANTITY OF CONTAINER CONTENTS 4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in powder dispensing containers and more particularly to an improved dispensing mechanism which is automatically operable to close the conta ner a d Which is convenientlymanuall-y operable to effectively regulate and control the outflow of powder to the bristles of a tooth brush or the like, or into the hand or other receptacle.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide a powder dispensing mechanism which conveniently may be operated by a finger of the hand which is holding the container thereby to efiectually control and regulate the outflow of powder both as to the place of depositof the powder and the amount of any particular deposit.

Another object is to provide a powder dispensing mechanism which is operable to dispense only a measured quantity of powder in response to an operation of the mechanism and which is operable also to dispense a continuous stream of powder so long as the mechanism is manually maintained in a predetermined operatiye condition.

A further object is to provide a powder dispensing mechanism which is biased to closed position and which is operable by a finger to open the mechanism for outflow of powder, with means interiorly of the powder .containersirnul-. taneously operable for agitating powder in the region of the outlet for ensuring free flow of powder into the outlet when the latter is open.

It is, moreover, my purpose and object generally to improve the structure, operation and etficienoy of powder dispensers and more especially such dispensers haying manually afituatae ble closure elements which are biased to closed positions.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. l is a side elevation of power dispensing mechanism embodying features of my invention, the mechanism being shown in closed. condition mounted .on a powder container only the upper portion of which is shown in medialscrosssection;

Fig. 2 shows the container of Fig. l tipped to a powder-dispensing position, with the dispensing mechanism, shown in medial cross-section, in an open condition for direct outflow of powder;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but with the dispensing mechanism in its position for taking in a measured quantity of powder which may be dispensed when the dispensing mechanism is released and returns to its outermost position; and

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, the container as represented has a body I whose top end is closed by a cover I2. The container and cover may be of any suitable sheet material but 'Iprefer to employ sheet metal such as tin to whose surface powder will have little tendency to cling.

The cover l2 has an opening 14 therethrough surrounded by an outwardly projecting neck flange [6 within which my combined closure and dispensing member I8 nicely fits for sliding movement. Member It may be of tin or other suitable material in the general form of a short cylinder whose outer end is closed by the end wall 20 and whose inner end is open into the interior of the container. However, an inclined partition 22 closes the passage through member 58 so that, with member 18 in its position of Fig. 1, the inclined partition 22 in conjunction with the adjacent cylindrical walls of member I8 efi'ectively closes the opening 14 in cover l2.

The inclined partition 22 extends diagonally from the inner end of member vIt to a location slightly outward of the neck flange it when member I8 is in its outermost position of Fig. 1, and the cylindrical wall of member 18 adjacent the partition at its inner portion is slotted at 24 so that, when member I8 is pressed inward to its positions of Figs. 2 and 3, powder can es-- cape through slot '24 into member 18 on the outer side of the inclined partition 22.

A similar slot 26 in the opposite cylindrical wall of member 18, adjacent end wall 26 constitutes a dispensing outlet from member 18 for any powder in member 18 on the outer side of partition 22, and such powder'conveniently may be directed to a brush or into the hand when the container is held tipped as in Fig, 2, with memher [8 held depressed as in Fig. -2

Member 18 constantly is biased by spring 23 to its outer position of Fig. 1, in which position the partition 22 closes the opening M of cover l2. The spring is anchored at 30 on the cover with the ends of its arms 28a, 28b engaged in the ears 32 which project inwardly at the inner end of member 18. The spring yieldingly maintains the member It in its position of Fig. 1 with the slot 24 closed by the neck flange l6. Also the spring arms prevent rotation of member 58.

When it is desired to dispense powder from container Hi, the container may be held in one hand tipped as in Figs. and so that powder in the container accumulates at the outlet end hereof. Then member l8 may be depressed inward by a finger of the same hand which is holding the container, either to provide acontinuous outflow. as in Fig. 2 which may be .controlied and stopped as desired, or to acquire a measured quantity of powder in member l8, as in Fig, 3, to be dispensed as soon as the outlet slotZt is uncovered inrespons to removal of finger pres sure on member [8.

is a a ure o importance that the actuations of the dispensing mechanism agitate the powder in the region of its escape into member 18. The spring arms 28a, 28b constitute agitating means preventing any packing of powder at the outlet, and the movements of member l8 also agitate the powder. Actually, with the container held as in Fig. 2, member I8 may be slightly vibrated in and out by pressure of the finger thereby to actuate the spring arms for agitating the powder and ensuring a free outflow. In any event, a stoppage of flow due to packing quickly may be remedied by a further actuation of member l8.

It will be obvious from the foregoing description that I have provided a practicably simple powder dispensingv mechanism which may be embodied on a container cover at small cost, and which constitutes an effective and convenient means for controlling and regulating outflow of powder thereby to avoid the waste which is an incident of each of the prior powder dispensing devices of which I am aware.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a powder dispensing container having a tubular outlet in a wall thereof, a closure member nicely fitting in said outlet and slidable therein between outer and inner positions in each ofw hich it closes said opening, said closure member having a chamber therein with entrance and discharge openings, of which the entrance openiny is closed by the tubular Walls of said outlet, and the discharge opening is open when the closure member is in its said outer position, and the entrance opening is open interiorly of the container and the discharge opening is closed by the tubular walls of said outlet when said closure member is in its said inner position, and said closure element being movable to an intermediate position in which both said entrance and discharge openings are at least partially open, and means interiorly of the container engaging said closure member and constantly biasing it to its said outer position, said means having a portion adjacent to the inner end of said tubular outlet and movable in response to movements of the closure member thereby to agitate powder which is in position to enter the entrance opening of said chamber when the closure member is moved to its said inner position.

2. In a powder dispensing container having a tubular outlet in a wall thereof, a hollow closure member having cylindrical walls nicely fitting within the tubular walls of said outlet and slidable therein, said hollow closure member having an outer end wall and having a partition crossing its hollow and constituting a wall of a chamber in said closure member on the outer side of said partition, there being an entrance opening to said chamber through said cylindrical walls a substantial distance inward from said end wall, and a discharge opening from said chamber adjacent to said end wall, means biasing the closure member to an outlet-closing position in which said entrance opening of said chamber is closed by the tubular walls of said outlet and said discharge opening of said chamber is open outward of the tubular walls of said outlet, said closure element being depressible to an innermost position to close the discharge opening and to open the entrance opening interiorly of the chamber, whereby a charge of powder may enter said chamber, for subsequent discharge, and being depressible to an intermediate position in which both said entrance and discharge openings are at least partially open for continuous discharge 4 of powder, and said biasing means being interiorly of the container and having a portion adjacent to the inner end of said tubular element and movable in response to movements of said closure member thereby to agitate powder which is in position to enter the entrance opening of said chamber when said closure member is depressed to its said innermost position.

3. In a powder dispensing container having a tubular outlet in a wall thereof, a closure member nicely fitting in said outlet and slidable therein between outer and inner positions in each of which it closes said opening, spring means anchored at one end interiorly on a wall of the container and having substantial extent therefrom generally toward the inner end of said closure member, means connecting said extending portion of the spring to the inner end of the closure member whereby the spring biases said closure member to its said outer position and maintains the closure member against any appreciable rotation in said tubular outlet, said closure member having a chamber therein with entrance and discharge openings, of which the entrance opening is closed within the tubular walls of said outlet and the discharge opening is open when said closure member is in its said outer position, and the entrance opening is open interiorly of the container and the discharge opening is closed within the tubular walls of said outlet when said closure element is in its said inner position, and said closure element being depressible from its said outer to its said inner position with powder-agitating actuation of said spring.

4. In a powder dispensing container having a tubular outlet in a wall thereof, a closure member nicely fitting in said outlet and slidable therein between outer and inner positions in each of which it closes said opening, a generally Y- shaped spring having its Y-arms pivotally con nected to the inner end portion of said closure member at opposite sides thereof, and having its Y-leg anchored interiorly on a wall of the container, said spring biasing said closure member to its said outer position and maintaining it against rotation, said closure member having a chamber therein with entrance and discharge openings, of which the entrance opening is closed within the tubular walls of said outlet and the discharge opening is open when said closure member is in its said outer position, and the entrance opening is open interiorly of the container and the discharge opening is closed within the tubular walls of said outlet when said closure element is in its said inner position, and said closure element being depressible from its said outer to its said inner position with powderagitating actuation of said spring.

ALFRED W. GROTE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 19,342 Breckenridge Feb. 16, 1858 765,815 Christen July 26, 1904 922,315 McLellan May 18, 1909 931,984 Buckman Aug. 24, 1909 1,326,053 Henry Dec. 23, 1919 2,084,029 Hochstim Mar. 28, 1935 

